Solarcell | Solarpanel | Solar Energy

Photovoltaic cells or for short we can call it PV are commonly called as Solar cells. This cells converts the solar light directly to electricity. It can be found on many small appliances nowadays, like calculators or watches and even on satellites or space craft.

PV cells were first developed by U.S. government agency in the 1950s for use on space satellites program. PV cells are made of silicon wafer. When solar light strikes the PV cell, electrons of those silicon layer are knocked loose. It moves toward the front surface of the incoming light. This movement creates an electron imbalance between the front and back. When the two surfaces are joined by a connector, like a wire, a current of electricity occurs between the negative and positive sides.

The current of electricity created from single PV cell, apparently only small. To create bigger electricity these individual solar cells are arranged together in a PV module and the modules are grouped together in an array. With this current efficiency of energy conversion, it still requires a wide area to generate enough energy for a small town.

Because the highest energy conversion could only reached by 90^o incoming light direction, some of the arrays are set on special tracking devices to follow solar light all day long.

The electrical energy from PV cells or PV arrays can then be used directly for further uses. It can be used in a home to power daily electricity consume. It also has great uses in business, due to its long term energy saving. Solar energy can be stored in batteries to light a roadside billboard at night.

Some experimental cars also use Photovoltaic cells. They convert solar light directly into energy to power electric motors on the car, but this technology is not ready for mass production yet. Recent trends of automotive industry is creating hybrid cars which combine between electricity and fuel. The source of electricity apparently from fuel itself or from mechanical energy conversion. Perhaps when new technology of PV arrived, high energy conversion from solar light could be achieved, and its efficient to self-generate enough electricity for a car.